15th Annual LIGHTS ON FOR SAFETY Helps Hundreds of Motorists!
On Saturday, October 3, 2009, the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN) held its fifteenth annual Lights On For Safety event.
AASP-MN volunteers, with help from automotive technical students, conducted a free inspection and replacement of exterior vehicle light bulbs for the motoring public. Volunteers at 8 sites serviced 479 vehicles and collected 1,679 pounds of food and over $1,575 for local food shelves. In addition, $4,100 in scholarships was distributed to automotive tech students who participated in the event. At most locations, troopers were on hand to answer traffic safety-related questions.
Lights On for Safety brings AASP-MN members, automotive students and industry suppliers together with the goal of improving safety on Minnesota’s roadways. Pat Whelan, Lights On For Safety Committee Chair, stated, “So many people are helped by this event, including motorists who don’t have the resources to properly maintain their vehicles, as well as those who use local food shelves to help make ends meet. The scholarships also assist college students with educational expenses.”
Lights On For Safety took place at the following sites: AAA, Burnsville; Century College, White Bear Lake; Dunwoody College of Technology, Minneapolis; Hennepin Technical College, Brooklyn Park; MN DOT/State Patrol headquarters in Duluth; Minnesota State Community & Technical College, Moorhead; South Central College, North Mankato; and St. Cloud Technical College, St. Cloud.
In addition to AASP-MN, sponsors of Lights On For Safety include: Auto Value Parts Stores, NAPA Auto Parts and Parts Plus/Red Rooster Auto Stores. The event was also supported by AAA and CARQUEST.
The primary objectives of Lights On For Safety are to: improve vehicle safety; stock local food shelves, support automotive students with scholarships and industry connections, encourage interaction and build rapport among all sectors of the automotive service industry and increase public awareness and goodwill toward the automotive service industry.
